Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: May 2017

Mass Media in Belarus expo

Heritage of Belarus: Restored Architectural Values art project

For several years, Minsk residents and guests have had a chance to learn more about Belarus’ outstanding landmarks, the uniqueness of which is recognized throughout the world. This year, the open-air gallery has brought together over 100 reproductions depicting the architectural heritage, among which are towns halls, manors, palaces and parks, Orthodox and Catholic churches which have been restored over the past decade in different regions of the country. The authors of the art project are well-known photographers, journalists, winners of the Spiritual Revival Award (2005) Alexander Alekseev and Oleg Lukashevich, who released the album "Heritage of Belarus" in 2004. The album sold over 42 million copies from 2004 to 2014 and became a real sales hit in the history of the national book publishing.

When: from 21 May 2016
Where: Chelyuskintsev Park, Minsk

Modern art expo dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Marc Chagall

The Belarusian contemporary art will be on display at an exhibition dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Marc Chagall, a famous native of Vitebsk and one of the brightest representatives of the artistic avant-garde of the 20th century. The large-scale exposition will feature the works in different genres (painting, drawing, sculpture, arts and crafts) by national and foreign artists, the participants of the Chagall’s plein-airs and students of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. The exhibition will also feature the works of 68 finalists of the first contest for the National Fine Art Award 2017. The jury will choose winners in 10 nominations: monumental and monumental decorative art, art design, photography, novation, art criticism…

When: 18 April – 21 May
Where: Palace of Arts, the National Center for Contemporary Arts, Minsk

International expo "Ultima ratio regum. Belarus in the Northern Wars in the mid 17th – early 18th centuries”

A large-scale international project, which took two years to prepare, brought together the largest galleries of Belarus, Lithuania and Sweden such as the National History Museum, the Sela Birzai Region Museum and the Army Museum, Stockholm. The slogan "Ultima ratio regum" was not an accidental choice as a war considered to be an ultima ratio in interstate conflicts, and this inscription was featured on the French cannons since the Louis the Thirteenth. Visitors to the Mir Castle Complex will make a journey into the time of the Northern Wars which happened in the center of Europe in the middle of the 17 - early 18th centuries and which involved such powerful nations as Rzeczpospolita, Sweden and Russia. The exposition features engraved portraits, plans, maps, coins, medals and military banners, inclduing the banner of Hetman Krzysztof Radziwill.

When: 21 April – 24 September
Where: Mir Castle Complex, Grodno Oblast
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Paintings from Maciej Radziwill’s collection on display in Gomel

The unique project “The Radziwills: The Fate of the Country and the Family” offers a look into the past of the nation through the story of one of the richest and most powerful princely dynasties of Europe. The exhibition brings together paintings, drawings, portraits, miniatures, fabrics and art medals from the private collection of Prince Maciej Radziwill, an aristocrat, businessman and public figure. The exhibition presents the portraits of famous representatives of the family by famous European artists. Some of these portraits may have survived in a single copy. The exhibition also includes the portraits of the Radziwill representatives from the holdings of the National Art Museum of Belarus which were kept in Nesvizh Castle until 1939.

When: from 22 April
Where: Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace of Gomel
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Artist and City project in Minsk

The project Artist and City featuring the copies of the best paintings of famous artists will open a new season in Minsk. It has something new in store for us this time! In previous years, visitors of the open-air gallery saw one-artist expositions dedicated to world-famous Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, Nikolai Seleshchuk, Valentin Gubarev. The Artist and City 2017 project will feature a constellation of talented artists. The exposition named The Golden Collection of the Belarusian Fine Art which will traditionally adorn the Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk for four months will showcase the best works of 35 renowned artists representing various generations and artistic genres. These include Ruslan Vashkevich, Leonid Khobotov, Vladimir Savich, Zoya Litvinova, Anatoly Baranovsky… Besides, in 2017 the Artist and City project will become one of the largest triennial projects of the Belarusian art. It may become a major event in the cultural life of Belarus and will be dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Marc Chagall.

When: starting from 27 April
Where: Yakub Kolas Square, Minsk

Landscape Architecture and Design Festival 2017

During the first days of May the Landscape Architecture and Design Festival will transform the historic center of Minsk into a comfortable art territory. The streets of Zybitskaya, Cyril and Methodius and Gertsena will be decorated with natural flowers, original installations, designer benches, sunbeds, swings and author’s sculptures. The yards will be decorated with artistic graduation works of students and the Svisloch River quay with floating houses. Citizens of Minsk and visitors of the "green" fest will see the projects of the country’s best landscape designers dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Belarusian book printing and the 950th anniversary of Minsk. The program of the festival also includes the exhibition of the projects of different years, meetings, lectures and master classes from famous specialists who will talk about how to put together a fountain, to design a small garden or to beautify a backyard.

When: 1 – 10 May
Where: Upper Town, Minsk

Mass Media in Belarus expo

The biggest international mass media forum will gather representatives of periodicals, TV channels, radio stations, news agencies and internet portals of Belarus, Russia and other CIS states, China, Venezuela, Cuba in Minsk for the 21st time. The forum will highlight the history of media development in Belarus on the examples of the oldest periodicals, demonstrate the best media projects and showcase the latest developments in the area of communication technologies. The program will include presentations, roundtables, seminars and master classes featuring famous journalists and experts. The events will focus on the state and development prospects of the information sector in Belarus. The media forum will wrap up with an official ceremony to award the winners of the National Competition of Printed Mass Media Golden Letter.  

When: 3 – 6 May
Where: BelExpo, 14 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk
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Dudarski Rei festival in Glubokoye

The Dudarski Rei festival will gather the best pipers from different regions of Belarus and foreign countries in Glubokoye, a “cherry” capital of Belarus, for the first time. The unusual fest was initiated by Belarusian translator, writer, publisher and publicist Vitaly Voronov. The festival will kick off with an improvisation at the Alley of Outstanding Compatriots near the bust of Ignat Buinitsky, the founder of the Belarusian professional theater which decided to make a piper part of its theater company. The program will include an exhibition “Pipe in Literature” to mark 500 years of the Belarusian book printing, and Great Polish Pipes in the 21st Century, a music trip around the dendrological park in the village Mosar.  Visitors will also be treated to a performance during the service in the Roman Catholic Church of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village Udelo, a festive procession and a gala concert of folk bands from different countries.

When: 6 – 7 May
Where: the villages Mosar and Udelo, Glubokoye, Vitebsk Oblast

Olympia-Klassika Orchestra: World’s Best Waltzes

The Olympia Klassika Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Mikhail Snitko, a student of the renowned conductors People's Artists of Russia Gennady Provatorov, Ilya Musin and Gennady Rozhdestvensky, will present a new concert program of the world’s best waltzes. The program includes the world’s masterpieces: famous works of the "king of waltzes" Johann Straus, music selections from the operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, the famous ballets Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty by Piotr Tchaikovsky and plays by Sergei Prokofiev, favorite tunes from films, operettas and musicals, a medley of French and Russian waltzes. The audience will be invited onto a romantic trip full of light effects and video projections on a big screen…

When: 9 May
Where: Minsk Concert Hall, Minsk

Belarus Fashion Week AW 2017/18

The largest event in the Belarusian fashion industry will once again gather manufacturers, buyers, experts, and bloggers from various countries in Minsk. The Belarus Fashion Week’s catwalk will feature the latest collections for the 2017-2018 autumn-winter season from prominent Belarusian brands: Alena Goretskaya, Samoschenko, BOITSIK, T. Efremova, TARAKANOVA, Condra, EMSE, Tamara Goridovets, Anna-Maria Eglit, Nelva, Katya Volkova, Honar, Candy Lady, Fur Garden… Visitors will be able to see new ready-to-wear collections and fashion installations by young fashion designers as well as custom-made lineups of men’s and women’s apparel from participants of the contest New Names BFW. Apart from that, as part of the UNAIDS-sponsored program Fashion Aids Line top fashion designers will create apparel featuring national motifs and the red band as the international anti-AIDS symbol.

When: 11 – 14 May
Where: BelExpo national expo center, 14 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk
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International exhibition of retro and classic cars Retro Minsk 2017

Timed to Victory Day, the open-air exhibition of elite cars will gather collectors and fans of retro cars and classic brands from various countries in Minsk for the tenth time. A motorcade of rarity cars will travel from State Flag Square where the opening ceremony will take place and flowers will be laid in honor of State Emblem and State Flag Day to the final destination — the Aviation Technology Museum. The forum will also include a tour of the Belarusian State Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War. The forum will culminate in an open air exposition in Oktyabrskaya Square where anyone will be able to see up close and personal the unique cars made by the domestic automobile industry and foreign ones. On display there will be cars made by Rolls-Royce, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, LADA, UAZ, Volga, Chaika…

Where: Minsk
When: 12 – 14 May

13 May – State Flag Square – Victory Square – Oktyabrskaya Square – the Belarusian State Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War – the Aviation Technology Museum in the Borovaya airfield

Robot technology and innovative technology expo Roboticon 2017 in Minsk

Roboticon 2017 will gather leading developers and investors, representatives of companies specializing in robot technology and Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturers of industrial robots, domestic robots, and educational robots in Minsk’s indoor football center. Presentations of cutting-edge international and Belarusian robot technology and 3D printing products will be arranged. The scientific conference HARD 2017 will be a major event. It will bring together leading experts and players of the IoT industry and robot technology industry from the CIS states, Europe, and the USA. Apart from that, the forum will feature presentations of high-tech startups, the Minsk robot technology championship Roboticon, the national contest of technical arts, competitions in educational robotics, and practical lessons on assembling and programming robots under the supervision of instructors from Belarus and Russia.

When: 12 – 13 May
Where: Indoor Football Center, Minsk
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Surganova and Orchestra in Minsk

One of the most original Russian bands Surganova and Orchestra returns to Minsk with a new acoustic program which was presented in 2016 with great success. All tickets were sold out two weeks before the concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A special confessional manner of signing, original combination of touching lyrics and various music genres (rock, latino, trip-hop, electronic music) have been the trademark of the band with all-time leader and inspirer, singer, musician and poet Svetlana Surganova for more than a decade. In Minsk Svetlana Surganova will sing the best songs of the band in a new enchanting and deep manner.

When, Where:

24 May – Mogilev Concert Hall, Mogilev
25 May – National Palace of Culture of Trade Unions, Minsk

Folk art festival “Augustow Canal Invites Friends”

A unique hydraulic facility of the 19th century and one of the most beautiful natural landmarks of Belarus and Poland, the Augustow Canal, opened a tourist season in April with an international festival of water tourism Neman Spring 2017. In May, the Augustow Canal will host the traditional festival “Augustow Canal Invites Friends”. It will begin with a fascinating parade of amateur art groups from Grodno District. Apart from extreme kayaking, the guests of the festival will watch theatrical performances, listen to the folk music of the best bands from Grodno District, take part in contests and popular entertainments, buy souvenirs at the exhibition and fair Patterns of Grodno Artisans, and taste national cuisine at a local farmstead…

When: 27 May
Where: Dombrovka sluice, Augustow Canal, Grodno Oblast

Historical re-enactment festival Era of Knighthood

The historical festival at the open-air museum in the village of Ozertso will recreate the atmosphere of knighthood and great deeds committed for the love of a fair lady. The guests of the festival will see the historical re-enactment of a medieval assault of a fortress. The festival will have a versatile program with an exhibition of plate armor, spectacular knights’ tournaments, mass infantry and cavalry battles, competitions of archers and halberdiers, medieval and folk music concerts, performances of dancing and street theater companies, including the ancient dance company Stella from St. Petersburg and, of course, the headliner of the festival, famous Belarusian band Stary Olsa. Apart from that, the guests of the festival will take part in medieval entertainments, visit a fair of artisans and workshops of craftsmen.

When: 27 – 28 May
Where: Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle, village of Ozertso, Minsk District